Japanese spindles are evergreen shrubs, or small trees with grafted crowns on short stems. They are very popular in southern countries and where winters are mild. The species has green leaves, but most attractive are varieties with varigated foliage.

Microphyllus Aureovariegatus is a Japanese spindle variety with small, golden-yellow variegated leaves. They are elliptic and small, only about 3 cm long. They have mostly golden-yellow colour with small green centres. Leaves inside the bush tend to show less yellow and more green.

The shrub grows slowly and very dense, it is supposed to be a dwarf plant in your climate (zone 6). It needs no pruning but can take it: in spring for re-juvenating, in July for shaping.

Japanese spindles are quite soil tolerant. They will do well in almost any well-drained soil, preferably moist, but not wet. Grow them on any location from full sun to deep shade but beware that plants with variegated foliage may suffer from winter and early spring morning sun. If you can find them a spot with winter shade and basically any portion of summer sunlight you may get in your garden. The species with green leaves does not mind winter sun so much. Even if leaves are sunburnt in winter don't worry, the plant will make a lot of new ones in spring. Protect them from extreme winds. If grown in containers overwinter them in a frost-free location with enough light. Hardy to -24°C (USDA zone 6).

Last update 03-01-2009

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GLOSSARY

STANDARD QUALITY - Plants of this group are 1st class quality with number of branches and overall density adequate to their size and age, considering they were container grown.

DE LUXE QUALITY - This label guarantees a luxurious quality of manually selected plants that, compared to their height and age, are exceptionally dense and beautiful.

EXTRA - These plants are usually mature and bigger specimens with exceptional overall appearance.

STANDARD (as described in the plant form) means a tree with a trunk of 190-210 cm and a crown at the top, unless specified differently. The commercial size for trees is their girth measured in the height of 1m from ground.

HOBBY - These plants are of the same quality as our standard-quality plants but younger and therefore cheaper.

SHRUB - a woody plant with branches growing bushy from the ground level.

HALF-STANDARD or MINI-STANDARD - a small tree with shorter trunk, its size is usually specified.

FEATHERED - These are trees with branches growing already from the base of the trunk and up along the stem.

GRASSES and PERENNIALS - Sizes given usually read the diameter of the pot or the clump, as specified.